Celebrating advent of spring

"I offer my regards and respect to our Iranian and Parsi brethren and to all people and nations who observe the festival of Navroz,” greeted Mehdi Hassankhani, director of Culture House of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Bombay while delivering the keynote speech at the Jashn-e-Navroze, a variety entertainment program organized by the Indo-Iranian Friendship Society in association with the Culture House at the Islam Gymkhana in Bombay on March 26, 2014. He added, "For centuries it has been celebrated in the vast Iranian plateau. A special significance has been attached to Navroz in Iranian history, culture and tradition. It brings about a complete transformation of human life both externally and internally. It strengthens the bonds of friendship and fellowship and tends to remove hatred and jealousy.” A report on the event was received by Parsiana from Godrej Dotivala, secretary general of the Society.

The evening’s program started with an invocation by Ervad Parvez Bajan in which he recited relevant couplets from Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh. In his presidential address Minoo R. Shroff, former chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, warmly welcomed all present and noted that the advent of spring is celebrated by several nations. Japan has its cherry blossom festival. In India the Hindus celebrate Holi, the Tamilians have Pongal while the north Indian festival is Baisakhi. Four years ago the United Nations General Body declared March 21 as the International Day of Navroz as it is celebrated by 300 million people worldwide, Shroff mentioned.
Guest of honor M. Zakaullah Siddiqi noted that there is merriment all around on Navroz, which falls on the vernal equinox when there is equal day and night. Specialist in sports medicine Dr Ali Irani recalled how he rose from humble beginnings to become a leading practitioner by hard work and perseverance, both typically Iranian characteristics. In a detailed perspective of the Peshdadian King Jamshed, Dotivala listed that the monarch had devised the calendar of Iran; was instrumental in getting the festival of spring celebrated in great style in his realm on March 21 each year; introduced the concept of wine as medicine; and had bricks made by tempering clay with water and setting them in molds. The bricks were later used to build magnificent edifices such as the Takht-e-Jamsheed, the throne of King Jamshed.
Singer Pesi Sidhva rendered old favorites and Marzban Wadia recited a poem composed by him especially for the occasion. Vistasp Gotla and his troupe performed skits and gags under their banner, Blazzing Fire. Dr Mansoor Showghi Yezdi’s film Café Irani Chai was screened, followed by a sumptuous dinner in Iranian style, the report concludes.